Water: Always bring a canteen or some other container
for water. Although many trails have natural springs, urban pollution has been contaminating more and more
of them. They can also dry up if rainfall is insufficient. Plan to drink at least 8 ounces of water for
every hour of exercise; twice that during the summer. Koreans love to bring beer and soju with them.
Just remember that alcohol is a diuretic- save the booze for celebrating after the hike.
Sunscreen:
The summer sun can be brutal in Korea! Even with cloudy conditions, the sun's rays can be very damaging.
Make sure you apply a good sunscreen before you go out and re-apply if you get wet or sweat profusely.
Buy online!
Money: Always have some money for emergencies. You may find
yourself too tired to walk to the nearest bus stop when you get back down. Or you may want to stop for
a celebratory drink and snack at one of the many restaurants lining the roads near popular trails.
Food: If you are planning on a long hike, take some food for
a snack to maintain your energy levels. Koreans like to take small oranges (evident by all the orange
peels littering the trails). Be good to the environment and pack out everything you take in with you.
Note: Cooking is only allowed in designated areas, and park officials can impose hefty fines for
cooking in non-designated areas. While they have been very lax in enforcing these rules in the past,
they have recently begun clamping down seriously because of the increased risk of forest fires.
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| Map: Although most trails are well marked, it can be a good idea
to know where you are. Having a good map is especially helpful when trying to decide between different
routes to the same destination. One of the best stores to buy topographical maps in Seoul is Chung-ang
Atlas Map Service (tel. (02) 720-9191). Near the trail heads for the most popular hiking areas, you can
find people selling bandanas that have the courses marked. Although they do not have the detail of
professional maps, they can be easily folded and put in your pocket. Plus, when was the last time you
used a map to wipe sweat off your face? |
| Camera: Many of the vista points have breath taking scenes
(weather conditions permitting). Taking a light camera can help you remember your favorite hikes. Lightweight
disposable cameras are very convenient and good enough for the casual picture taker.
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| Backpack: Now you need something in which to stash all this
stuff. Depending on the length of your hike, you may want anything from just a small fanny pack to stash
some money to a full-sized rack backpack to hold cooking utensils, food, a sleeping bag, and a tent. Most
day trippers will want something in-between- something to hold some water, a light snack, a camera, and
possibly a windbreaker. With such a wide selection, find something that will fit comfortably when fully
loaded. |
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